deconstruct
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to apply the theories of deconstruction to (a text, film, etc)
-
to expose or dismantle the existing structure in (a system, organization, etc)
Etymology
Origin of deconstruct
Apparently back formation from deconstruction
Explanation
To deconstruct a piece of writing or a work of art is to analyze it by carefully examining its ideas and language, especially to expose its contradictions and hidden meanings. An English professor can show you how to deconstruct a novel or poem, deciphering its individual parts, pulling them apart, and scrutinizing them for deeper meaning. Proving that a written text isn't what it initially seems to be is one goal of someone who deconstructs in this way — a graduate student might deconstruct "The Wizard of Oz," for example, and declare that it's actually an allegory for nineteenth century economics, rather than a children's story.
Vocabulary lists containing deconstruct
Media Literacy - High School
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Media Literacy - Middle School
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: de-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Enrigue feels called upon to deconstruct the genre of the western, even if that means undermining the excellent story in his own novel.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
It was shut down in 2022 and sold to Holtec, which was expected to deconstruct the buildings and store the nuclear waste.
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
“The fact the tariffs have come down is giving retailers pause when they consider a deconstruct, as they have to balance ‘shelf appeal’ against value or cost increases,” Foreman said.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026
Technology was a great ally of the Nortec Collective — it allowed us to deconstruct the norteño sound and create something new.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025
An older school of historians and philosophers took this framework for granted, while a newer school has wanted to debunk or deconstruct the concepts rather than explain their significance and trace their origin.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
